Herick, leaning his back against a tree, eavesdropping on Michael and Hyungoh’s conversation, quickly turned around at the sound of something splashing into the water.
Michael stood alone in the fog, staring blankly. Herick hurriedly looked around the lake. Strong ripples disturbed what had been a calm surface. No way. Herick’s heart tightened. Michael stretched his hand down toward the lake.
“Dangerous!”
Herick rushed over and grabbed Michael. Michael, who was about to dip his hand in the lake, rolled his big eyes.
“Look carefully.”
“…What?”
“This is what you wanted to see.”
Michael grabbed Herick’s neck and pulled him down. Forced to his knees by Michael’s strength, Herick was made to look at the lake.
Hyungoh, unconscious, was slowly rising to the surface. Herick couldn’t believe his eyes. He thought Hyungoh was dead. Michael effortlessly pulled out Hyungoh, whose back had surfaced first. After laying the limp Hyungoh on the ground, Michael muttered:
“Memories aren’t reliable. They can disappear with just a little shock.”
Michael caressed Hyungoh’s cheek. Hyungoh wasn’t breathing. Herick, placing his hand under Hyungoh’s philtrum, trembled at the lips.
“Are you going to leave him like this?”
“Why, worried?”
You brought this on yourself. Michael said coldly. You were the one who tempted Hyungoh to escape. Herick couldn’t deny it.
“Hey!”
Theo suddenly emerged from the forest with four men in black suits. Are you two crazy? Where were you wandering around at this hour? Herick turned his head to face Theo and opened his eyes wide.
“And why is he lying there soaking wet again?”
“…He fell into the lake.”
“What the hell?”
Damn it. Theo, quickly assessing the situation, rushed to Hyungoh and began CPR. The men following him looked Michael up and down and, seemingly relieved, glanced at each other.
Herick relaxed as Hyungoh soon coughed up water and gasped for breath. Five more men were called in shortly, and with Michael at the center, Hyungoh and Herick were safely escorted back inside under their protection.
“What happened while I was taking a quick nap?”
Theo grumbled. Thinking of going outside, what fearless guys. Hyungoh, carried on Theo’s back and breathing faintly, had fallen into what seemed like a faint.
Unlike Herick’s expectations, Michael was docile. I thought he would act more selfishly. The men who had been whispering in groups now took turns staying by Michael’s side, one at a time, apparently deciding to monitor him at close range. Michael didn’t particularly resist. He simply went into his room quietly and waited for Hyungoh to wake up.
This is complicated. This definitely isn’t what I wanted.
Herick was confused. He had clearly hoped for a rift between Hyungoh and Michael. But now that the situation had actually occurred, he wasn’t so sure. Why do I feel so uneasy about this? Herick, who was quietly watching Theo lay Hyungoh on the bed, questioned his own feelings.
“Tsk, tsk, poor guy.”
“What?”
“Did you push him into the water?”
“…”
“It must have been either you or Ghost. He wouldn’t have gone in on his own.”
“…He’s such an idiot that we can’t rule out that possibility either.”
“You’re just making excuses.”
“I’m making excuses?”
“Look in the mirror before saying that. Acting tough with that worried face. Is hating this guy part of your character now?”
You’re such a child. Acting all smart and know-it-all, but so stubborn. Theo, sitting on the edge of the bed, looked at Herick as if he were pathetic.
“But since when do you worry about Hyungoh?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“It’s all over your face. If you don’t want to be found out, manage your expressions better.”
“…”
“Don’t waste your emotions because of Ghost.”
“I never have.”
“Bullshit. You were always bristling and ticking away. Honestly, what has Hyungoh ever done wrong to you?”
Theo nudged Herick, who was glaring fiercely, and shook his head. I’m saying this for your own good, you narrow-minded bastard.
Herick glanced at Hyungoh, who was sleeping while sweating profusely, and frowned. Then he immediately opened the door and left. Theo, who had been watching his retreating figure like a rebellious teenage brother, turned his eyes to Hyungoh.
He seemed to be having a nightmare, grimacing. Theo clicked his tongue once more at Hyungoh and smoothed the wrinkles between his brows with his finger.
Hyungoh was trapped in an inescapable white void. Looking around, there was only a white background, making it impossible to distinguish what was front or back.
What was I doing?
Hyungoh stood in a daze. He felt like an idiot. I can’t remember anything. It was an artificial space, as if intentional. It felt like someone had brought him here and imprisoned him.
Mother, mother.
I’m sorry.
Hyungoh perked up his ears at the whispered voice.
I’m sorry, mother.
Hyungoh ran straight toward where the sound was coming from. The desperate echoing voice made his heart ache.
The voice soon changed to sobbing. Hyungoh quickened his pace. The crying was so mournful that even Hyungoh felt like he might cry.
The sound grew closer. Hyungoh slowed down as he saw a man’s back in the distance.
A familiar school uniform. It was the same as Hyungoh’s high school uniform. Hyungoh felt compassion for the man sitting on the ground, constantly shedding tears.
“Excuse me, are you okay?”
The man’s sobbing stopped.
I’m fine.
He raised his head. His bangs were so long they almost pierced his eyes. Hyungoh was surprised to see that he had the exact same face as himself.
I’m fine, because I promised mother.
“What… promise?”
Hyungoh asked.
The promise to throw away all my memories.
What? He frowned at the ominous whisper. The man rose and staggered toward Hyungoh. Hyungoh’s feet felt frozen, unable to move. The man grinned and pushed Hyungoh.
Hyungoh’s body tilted. Expecting to fall backward, he tightly shut his eyes. But what touched his back wasn’t a hard floor. It was the stinging surface of water.
“Huh…!”
His breath caught in his throat. The man was looking down at Hyungoh, smiling. A creepy smile. Hyungoh closed his eyes and then opened them again. The man had grown shorter in that moment. His hair color was also lighter. Soft light-yellow hair. Pale skin. He whispered.
Choi.
“Aaaah!”
“Shit, you scared me!”
Theo, who had been nodding off, jumped in surprise and grabbed the gun he had placed on the table. You startled me. Theo, who was annoyed, approached Hyungoh, who was breathing irregularly, with a serious face.
“What’s wrong with you? Pull yourself together.”
“Th-Theo…”
Help me. Please help me.
The two hands gripping Theo’s arms were trembling violently. Hyungoh kept recalling Michael’s eyes. Those eyes that had coldheartedly looked down on him as he struggled to survive. It felt like all the blood had drained from his body.
He was no longer the Michael that Hyungoh knew. He was sufficiently threatening, and Hyungoh had just realized this fact far too late.
I shouldn’t be here. I can’t handle him. Hyungoh’s instinct screamed.
The most dangerous thing to me is Michael.
